Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

heads or tails

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.64 in modern English

Syllables
head-s or -tails
IPA
16
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
3
Syllables
10
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The practice of flipping a coin in the air, to choose between two alternatives based on which side lands face up.

Etymology

Attested since at least 1833, on the second page of Galignani's Messenger: "amusing themselves by pitching quoits, spoiling halfpence at heads or tails with the gingerbread merchants, drinking beer, smoking, etc".

Phrases

make heads or tails of heads or harps cross and pile toss a coin

Frequently Paired Words

make heads or tails of heads or harps cross and pile toss a coin

Questions

What does heads or tails mean?
The practice of flipping a coin in the air, to choose between two alternatives based on which side lands face up.
Where does heads or tails come from?
Attested since at least 1833, on the second page of Galignani's Messenger: "amusing themselves by pitching quoits, spoiling halfpence at heads or tails with the gingerbread merchants, drinking beer, smoking, etc".

How to pronounce heads or tails

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “heads or tails”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “heads or tails”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “heads or tails” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.